Hardware Podcasts

The Carbon Copy: Get ready for the battery recycling boom

Catalyst · 7 Jul 2022 · 21m

What this episode covers

Julian Spector, a senior reporter at Canary Media, discusses the surge in battery recycling investment driven by geopolitical instability and commodity price spikes following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He highlights startups like Redwood Materials, Ascend Elements, and Li-Cycle, which are raising hundreds of millions to build circular supply chains for lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Spector explains that while mining new minerals is slow and carbon-intensive, recycling offers a secure, domestic source of critical materials, turning an environmental challenge into an economic and national security imperative.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Canary Media, Redwood Materials, Ascend Elements, Li-Cycle, Energy Hub, Bloom Energy

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • EE Times Current · 34m

    Electric Car Superiority | The Supply Chain is All Mine | Cookies for Calculus

    Auto industry expert Egil Juliussen explains that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will become cost-competitive with internal combustion engine vehicles within five years, driven by battery prices dropping to $100 per kilowatt-hour, expanded model availability from automakers like VW and GM, and lower operational costs. Supply chain specialist Lewis Black, chairman of El Monte, discusses a survey revealing US manufacturers' heavy reliance on China for strategic minerals like tungsten and tantalum, highlighting the critical need for diversification and the loss of extraction knowledge in the West. The episode also covers emerging battery technologies such as supercapacitors and wireless charging, while noting the political and logistical challenges of reshoring mineral supply chains.

    Batteries & low-power designSourcing & supply chain
    7 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 24m

    Turning the E-Waste Stream Into a National Asset w/ Matt Bedingfield

    Matt Bedingfield, CEO of Mint Innovation, explains how the US can turn its e-waste stream into a national asset by recovering critical minerals like copper, gold, and palladium from printed circuit boards and black mass. He highlights a 1-million-ton copper shortfall and the vulnerability of relying on exporting scrap only to re-import refined metal, arguing for a sovereign supply chain built on domestic processing capabilities. Bedingfield discusses the necessity of an ecosystem approach, citing his work with the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) in Kentucky to solve pre-competitive challenges like talent pipelines and safety, and outlines Mint's plan to build a new facility in Longview, Texas.

    Sourcing & supply chainStarting a product company
    8 chapters

  • Tough Tech Vets · 47m

    From the Battlefield to the Supply Chain: A Marine’s Mission to Secure Critical Minerals with Ian Killough, President of Ridgeline Elements

    Ian Killough, President of Ridgeline Elements, explains how he transitioned from civil engineering to founding a company that secures critical minerals by processing cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He details the company's pivot to using electrochemical leaching technology developed with the Idaho National Laboratory to create a feed-agnostic, ethical supply chain that avoids the corruption and opacity of traditional Chinese-dominated markets. Killough discusses the challenges of feasibility studies, securing government support, and building an equitable local workforce in the DRC while establishing operations in Arkansas.

    Sourcing & supply chainMaterials & manufacturing processes
    8 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 04m

    510: The Secret Chip

    Christina Cyr, CEO of dTOOR, discusses her journey building The Cyrcle Phone, an Android device with a round display, and her company's status as a social purpose corporation. She details the technical challenges of sourcing components like ADH connectors, the high costs of industry awards, and the emerging economics of lithium-ion battery recycling. Cyr also shares insights on navigating the hardware startup landscape, including the difficulty of fundraising and strategies for re-entering the workforce after a career break.

    Starting a product companyPCB design & layout
    8 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 36m

    274: The Auto Rescue, Critical Minerals, and Moving Manufacturing Forward with Representative Haley Stevens

    Representative Haley Stevens, who served as chief of staff in President Obama's U.S. auto rescue task force, discusses her 'Unearth America's Future Act' to reduce U.S. dependence on China for critical minerals like lithium and graphite. She explains how the 2008 auto rescue saved 200,000 Michigan jobs and highlights the importance of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers in supporting small and midsize manufacturers. Stevens advocates for loan guarantees, tax credits, and a revised tax code to lower costs and create jobs, emphasizing that bringing the entire supply chain, including refining and recycling, back to the U.S. is essential for national security and economic resilience.

    Sourcing & supply chainPolicy, trade & tariffs
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Catalyst. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.